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The voters' friend

After a decade of democratisation, some elections are bringing change, some are not

France's electoral downs and ups over the past few months have provoked some sardonic comment in the Francophone African press especially when extreme right-wing Front National leader Jean-Marie le Pen edged the incumbent Socialist Premier Lionel Jospin out of the presidential contest in the 21 April first round. Delight at French discomfiture was understandable in former colonies such as Mali and Senegal....

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The voters' friend

After a decade of democratisation, some elections are bringing change, some are not

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